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Juicy watermelon can be as miraculous as Viagra
Watermelon produces an effect similar to that of Viagra, researchers say. A slice of juicy watermelon contains citrulline that can trigger the production of a substance that relaxes the body’s blood vessels. A similar effect is produced when a man takes a Viagra pill.

Sweat It All Out!
There is a valid reason why human beings have used sweat baths for hygienic and health purposes since the Stone Age. It's because sweating has proven its effectiveness in flushing out toxins and disease and maintaining optimal physical as well as mental health.Most cultures around the world have their own versions of the sweat bath, whether it's the ancient Romans and their "Thermae" or the traditional Japanese "Onsen". The Russians call it the "Banya" and the for native North American Indians it's "Inipi", without omitting the notorious Turkish bath or "Hamam". However, the most prominent and popular one of all is the Finnish Sauna.

Benefits of Water
The human body, which is made up of between 55 and 75 percent water (lean people have more water in their bodies because muscle holds more water than fat), is in need of constant water replenishment.Your lungs expel between two and four cups of water each day through normal breathing - even more on a cold day. If your feet sweat, there goes another cup of water. If you make half a dozen trips to the bathroom during the day, that's six cups of water. If you perspire, you expel about two cups of water (which doesn't include exercise-induced perspiration).

Milk thistle compound may protect against liver cancer
A flavanone compound in milk thistle, silibinin, may stop the growth and spread of liver cancer, suggests a laboratory study from the University of California, Irvine.The in vitro study used human liver cancer cells exposed to different doses of silibinin, and found that the milk thistle compound could inhibit the spread of the cells and promote programmed cell death (apoptosis).It should be stressed that the new research, published in the World Journal of Gastroenterology, did not use milk thistle dietary supplements, but pure silibinin, the active component in milk thistle.

Onion compound linked to lower blood pressure
Quercitin, the compound most commonly associated with onions, may reduce blood pressure by an average of five millimitres of mercury, indicates new research.
The study, said to be the first to report the blood pressure-lowering activity of this flavonol, found a daily 730 milligram supplement of quercitin led to significant reductions in the blood pressure of 22 people with high blood pressure (hypertension).Hypertension, defined as having a systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP) greater than 140 and 90 mmHg, affects about 600 million people worldwide and is associated with over seven million deaths.The randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study, considered to be the gold-standard for experimental interventions, adds to an ever-growing body of reported health benefits for quercitin. The flavonol was previously linked to reduced risk of certain cancers.

Black tea shows blood sugar benefits
A one gram drink of black tea may have the potential to stimulate an insulin response and reduce blood sugar levels, suggests new research from England.The study, a four-way randomised, crossover trial, suggests that Britain's top tipple could have benefits for diabetics to blunt the blood sugar spikes, keeping the body's blood sugar levels relatively steady throughout the day. This has been linked to better regulation of appetite and a reduced tendency to snack.

Forget eating your greens: red and blue foods are the cancer fighters Sources:
Natural pigments that give certain fruit and vegetables a rich red, purple or blue colour act as powerful anti-cancer agents, according to a study by American scientists.The compounds, found in foods such as aubergines, red cabbage, elderberries and bilberries, restricted the growth of cancer cells and in some cases killed them off entirely, leaving healthy cells unharmed.The study combined laboratory tests on human cancer cells with experiments on animals that were designed to see whether a diet rich in the foods made a difference to their risk of developing cancer.

Green tea spurs detox chemical production
A new clinical study provided evidence that green tea catechins can stimulate production of cancer-protective enzymes in people with low natural levels - the first to demonstrate this effect in humans, say researchers.Populations of counties where green tea is consumed as part of the every day diet, such as Japan and China, tend to have a lower incidence of cancer than people in countries where green tea is less commonly drunk. Consequently, green tea catechins - antioxidant polyphenols - have been the focus of considerable research in recent years.

Turmeric may help beat brain disease
Latest research shows that a chemical compound found in turmeric may help beat Alzheimer's, which is a brain disease that impairs memory. Researchers isolated the compound 'bisdemethoxycurcumin' found in turmeric, which they claimed helps stimulate immune system cells that defend the body against infections and diseases.

Drinking milk cuts diabetes risk
Drinking a pint of milk a day may protect men against diabetes and heart disease, say UK researchers. Eating dairy products reduces the risk of metabolic syndrome - a cluster of symptoms which increase likelihood of the conditions - the Welsh team found. In the 20-year study, published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, metabolic syndrome increased the risk of death by 50%.
Experts recommended people only eat two or three portions of dairy a day.

Fish oil lowers prostate cancer growth
A new study with mice suggests that a diet high in omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil might help slow prostate cancer growth.
Omega-3 fatty acids -- especially the long-chain forms found in oily fish -- have become the latest nutrition superstars, with studies suggesting they can help prevent heart disease and even cancer. "This study clearly shows that diet can tip the balance toward a good or a bad outcome," said senior researcher Yong Q. Chen, Ph.D., from Wake Forest University School of Medicine. "It's possible that a change in diet could mean the difference between dying from the disease and surviving with it."

Vitamin D dramatically cuts cancer risk: study
A landmark new study is raising the tantalizing spectre that a simple and cheap vitamin supplement may offer a highly effective way of preventing cancer. The research, published in the online edition of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, finds that a combination of vitamin D3 and calcium has a substantially marked effect on reducing cancer incidence. The four-year study out of Creighton University in Nebraska found that women who regularly took vitamin D3 had a 60 per cent reduction in cancer infections compared to a group taking placebos.

Omega-3 again linked to Alzheimers protection
22/06/2007 - Supplements of omega-3 fatty acids may help combat the depression and agitation symptoms associated with Alzheimer's disease, says a new clinical trial.The randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, published in the International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, with 174 patients with Alzheimers is yet another positive result for the fatty acids in relation to cognitive function. Last year the same researchers reported omega- may slow mental decline in people with very mild Alzheimer's disease (Archives of Neurology, Vol. 63, pp. 1402-1408).

Omega-3 eyed for retina protection
Omega-3 fatty acids may protect our eyes against the development and progression of retinopathy, a deterioration of the retina, is results from a mice study can be translated to humans.The study, published in the journal Nature Medicine, adds further support for increasing the ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 fatty acids with the finding that omega-6 fatty acid consumption is associated with an increased risk of retinopathy.

Omega-3 fatty acids key to cell health
ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) -- The name sounds like something out of a science fiction novel, but omega-3 fatty acids are a necessary part of our diet. "Every cell in the body requires omega-3 to function normally," says Dr. Andrew Stoll, author of "The Omega-3 Connection." "They are a class of fats, good fats that are actually as essential as vitamins to our health."Researchers discovered that omega-3 protects the heart about 30 years ago. Doctors now know that the compound controls inflammation and protects cells by forming part of the cell membrane. "We know that omega-3 can protect the heart, the lungs, the kidneys, really every organ system that we know of, including the brain," says Stoll.The problem is that most Americans don't get enough of the compound in their diet. Part of the reason, Stoll says, is they don't eat enough fish. Fatty fish such as salmon, mackerel, herring and sardines are the best sources of omega-3 for the diet. For most patients, Stoll recommends one or two servings of the cooked fish a week. Unlike other fish, which store the compound in their liver, the four recommended varieties store the compound in their muscles, which are eaten by humans. Watch more on Omega 3s in Health Minute »

Researchers recommend apple peel to protect against cancer
Apple peel may be more nutritious than apple flesh for people trying to keep cancer at bay, according to researchers at the Cornell Institute, New York, US.Researchers from Cornell claim to have identified a dozen compounds called triterpenoids in apple peel that either inhibited or killed cancer cells in laboratory cultures.
"We found that several compounds have potent anti-proliferative activities against human liver, colon and breast cancer cells and may be partially responsible for the anti-cancer activities of whole apples," said Rui Hai Liu, Cornell associate professor of food science. He and his colleagues analyzed the peel from 230 pounds of red delicious apples and isolated their individual compounds. They then tested the pure compounds against cancer cell growth.

Flavanol improves memory in mice, study
A plant-derived flavanol found in blueberries, tea, grapes and cocoa improved memory in mice. It could have the same effect on humans, according to research published in the Journal of Neuroscience, and funded by the food company Mars.Memory improvement increased further when the mice exercised regularly, concluded Henriette van Praag and colleagues from the Salk Institute. "This finding is an important advance because it identifies a single natural chemical with memory-enhancing effects, suggesting that it may be possible to optimize brain function by combining exercise and dietary supplementation," said Mark Mattson from the US' National Institute on Aging.

Eating flaxseed may halt prostate cancer growth
Daily consumption of flaxseed may stop the growth of prostate cancer tumours, according to research presented this weekend.Flaxseed,, which is rich in omega 3-fatty acids and fibre-related compounds known as lignans, may interrupt the chain of events that cause cells to divide irregularly and become cancerous, suggest researchers from the Duke University Medical Center in the United States. Folic acid seen to reduce stroke risk Folic acid supplementation is best known as a means of protecting unborn children against birth defects, but research suggests that it could also be beneficial to adults and significantly reduce their risk of suffering a stroke.A meta analysis published this week in The Lancet concludes that people can cut their risk of a stroke by a fifth by increasing their intake of folic acid.Xiaobin Wang from the Children's Memorial Research Center in the US and colleagues analysed data from eight randomised trials looking at the link between intake of folic acid and the risk of suffering a stroke.

Vitamin-B in diet helps slim avoid pancreatic cancer
A diet rich in B vitamins may decrease the risk of slim people contracting pancreatic cancer, according to a meta-analysis, but supplements may have the opposite effect. People with an average or below average body weight were at a reduced risk of pancreatic cancer if they ate a diet rich in vitamin B6, vitamin B12 and folate, concluded the study in the American Association for Cancer Research's Cancer Research journal.The conclusions were based on the combined data of four large studies and found that the target group's risk was 81 per cent, 73 per cent and 59 per cent lower if their diet contained significant amounts of B6, vitamin B12 and folate respectively.

Herbal Extract, Forskolin, May Help Combat Bladder Infections
An herbal extract, Forskolin, which is currently sold as an aid for allergy or fat loss treatment, may be beneficial for patients with bladder infections when taken in combination with antibiotics, say researchers from Duke, University, USA. You can read about this new researcher in the journal Nature Medicine.The majority of infections of the bladder are caused by Escherichia coli (E. coli). Women are much more susceptible to bladder infections than men - in fact, bladder infections can come back again and again.

EGCG from tea may prevent arthritis - study
Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) extracted from green tea may inhibit the production of inflammatory molecules associated with and joint damage in people with rheumatoid arthritis, scientists have reported.Salah-uddin Ahmed, from the University of Michigan Health System, told attendees at Experimental Biology 2007 in Washington, D.C. yesterday that the tea extract may also suppress the inflammatory products in the connective tissue of people with rheumatoid arthritis.

Saffron Persian herb for depression
Saffron is one of the most expensive herbs mainly produced in Iran. Studies say saffron has anti-depressant effect.

Borage, a traditional Persian remedy
Borage, also known as starflower, is one of the most important herbs in Persian traditional medicine. It is called 'gol-e gav zaban' in Iran. Borage has bright blue, star-shaped flowers.

Watermelon juice may be novel amino acid source
Watermelon juice may provide a novel source of the essential amino acid arginine, says a new study that shows the juice is a rich source of its metabolic precursor.
Arginine is a precursor for nitric oxide, which has been shown to lower blood pressure, reduce blood clotting and protect against myocardial infarction and strokes.Researchers from the ARS, Texas A&M University, the University of Nevada, and Oklahoma State University, have reported that blood arginine levels increased by 22 per cent after three weeks of drinking watermelon juice with every meal.
Watermelon is also a rich source of lycopene, a carotenoid that has been linked extensively to improvements in heart health and risk reductions for a range of certain cancers.

Grape juice, most beneficial juice of all
New research at the University of Glasgow in Scotland has shown grape juice, especially the purple variety, has much higher levels of an antioxidant called polyphenol than other fruits. Antioxidants are compounds found in fruits and vegetables which play a role in protecting the body from the damaging effects of free radicals. Free radicals are chemicals in the body which have been linked to a number of diseases including cancer and diabetes. Purple grape juice contains the most polyphenol, followed by cloudy apple juice and cranberry juice, while orange juice comes way down the list.

Blueberries help fight colon cancer
A new research shows pterostilbene, a powerful antioxidant compound found in blueberries, may help in combat of colon cancer. Colon cancer includes cancerous growths in the colon, rectum and appendix. It is the third most common form of cancer and the second leading cause of death among cancers in the Western world. There is no certain cause of this cancer but some factors can increase the risk like age, hereditary, smoking, too much consumption of meat and a low fiber diet.

Benefits of Apple Juice on Neurotransmitter Affecting Memory
Animal research from the University of Massachusetts Lowell (UML) indicates that apple juice consumption may actually increase the production in the brain of the essential neurotransmitter acetylcholine, resulting in improved memory. Neurotransmitters such as acetylcholine are chemicals released from nerve cells that transmit messages to other nerve cells. Such communication between nerve cells is vital for good health, not just in the brain, but throughout the body.

Vegetables May Boost Brain Power in Older Adults
Want to preserve your mental edge as you age? Vegetables - particularly green, leafy ones - will do the trick if you eat three servings a day, new research shows. But the research also suggests that the same effect is not found in those who eat lots of fruit. "It's a modest effect," said Martha Clare Morris, associate professor at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, and lead author of the study. "People who consumed two or more vegetables a day had a 35 to 40 percent decrease in the decline in thinking ability over six years. That's the equivalent of being five years younger in age."

Green tea may prevent HIV infection
 New studies suggest that drinking green tea may help to prevent or slow down the spread of HIV. A research team has tested tube experiments on a green tea flavonoid called epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) which showed that it binds with CD4 immune system T-cell receptors and stops HIV from doing the same.

Walnuts for healthy heart
According to latest research a handful of walnuts everyday can help in maintaining the elasticity of the arteries and thus reducing the risk of heart attacks and coronary heart disease. Olive oil, traditionally thought to be good for the heart and arteries was found to be less effective than walnuts. The fat molecules in a high fat diet trigger an inflammatory reaction which over a period of time contributes to the hardening of the arteries leading to heart disease and blockages. Walnuts have been found to increase the ability of the body to withstand the effects of these fatty acids and in maintaining the flexibility of the arteries.

Almonds could suppress appetite, tackle obesity
A handful of almonds, a rich source of flavonoid antioxidants, vitamin E and magnesium, may enhance the feeling of fullness in people and aid weight management, suggests a new study.
In other words, almond consumption could displace other foods from the diet, leading to a stable weight.Another explanation, suggested the researchers, is that some of almonds' fat is not digested and absorbed so the estimated energy content listed on the food label is greater than the amount actually available to consumers.The results need to be repeated in larger and longer intervention trials. Mechanistic studies are also needed to determine which compounds in the almonds could be exerting the potential satiating effect, and how this effect is achieved.

Sunflower Seeds  
Sunflower seeds contain both monounsaturated and poly unsaturated fat, the types of fat that may protect the heart. They are also a good source of Vitamin E, selenium which is often deficient in our diet and other important nutrients such as magnesium, potassium, iron and zinc.

Turmeric May Help Prevent Arthritis
An ancient Asian spice may hold the key to preventing rheumatoid arthritis.
A University of Arizona researcher has found that turmeric, known for giving curry its yellow color, is effective in reducing flare-ups and staving off rheumatoid arthritis. The bitter spice acts as an anti-inflammatory.The three-year study by Associate Professor Janet Funk appears in the November issue of the Arthritis and Rheumatism journal. Funk isn't ready to recommend that people rush out and buy turmeric supplements. More research is needed. The turmeric has been tested in animals but still needs to go through clinical testing, which could take another five years.

Turmeric – Nature’s precious gift
Turmeric (Curcuma longa) is a well-known indigenous herbal medicine. Its major constituents, curcumin, various curcuminoids, curcuma oil – particularly dl-ar-turmerone – exhibit a wide range of biological activities, e.g. anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, hypolipidemic, hepatoprotective, lipoxygenase, cycloxygenase, protease inhibitory effects, besides being effective active oxygen species scavengers and lipid peroxidase inhibitors.In the indigenous system of medicine, turmeric enjoys the reputation as a stomachic, blood purifier, useful in common cold, leprosy, intermittent fevers, affections of the liver, dropsy, purulent ophthalmia, otorrhea, indolent ulcers, pyogenic affections, wound healing and inflammation. A review of literature reveals that turmeric is useful in treating a variety of ailments and metabolic disorders. Turmeric roots are known1–3 to be antiseptic and aromatic. Its paste is used in cleansing and disin-fecting the skin and skin ulcers without drying out its natural oils. The bactericidal properties of turmeric have been proved by clinical testing to have a greater medicinal effect than being merely cosmetic. In vitro evaluation of the antibacterial potency of C. longa constituents – curcumin, other curcuminoids (Scheme 1)

Curry Ingredient May Help Fight Alzheimer's

FRIDAY, Oct. 27 (HealthDay News) -- Curcumin, a component of curry and turmeric, seems to help the immune system get rid of amyloid beta -- the protein that builds up to form damaging plaques in the brains of Alzheimer's patients.The findings build on previous research linking curry consumption to reduced Alzheimer's risk, including one study that found that only 1 percent of elderly Indians developed the disease -- a quarter of the rate seen in the United States.
Now, preliminary findings from the University of California, Los Angeles, suggest that curcumin comes to the aid of immune system cells called macrophages to clear away amyloid beta.

Resveratrol tackles Alzheimer's plaques
Resveratrol, a compound found in grapes and red wine, lowers levels of the amyloid-beta peptides that cause the plaques in the brain leading to Alzheimer's disease, shows new research.It could help to explain the large body of epidemiological evidence linking wine consumption to lower risk of dementia.Writing in the 11 November issue of the Journal of Biological Chemistry, Philippe Marambaud and his colleagues at the Litwin-Zucker Research Center for the Study of Alzheimers Disease and Memory Disorders in Manhasset, New York, describe adding resveratrol to cells which produce human amyloid-beta.They found that levels of amyloid-beta in the treated cells were much lower than those in untreated cells.The deposition of amyloid-beta peptides in the brain is one of the characteristic features of Alzheimer's disease.

JAMA study announces positive results in Alzheimer disease with Ginkgo extract
October 22, 1997. Results of a multicenter study published in the most recent issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) indicate that Ginkgo biloba extract can be of significant benefit in the treatment of dementia associated with Alzheimer disease and multi-infarct dementia (LeBars PL, Katz MM, Berman N, et al. A placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized trial of an extract of Ginkgo biloba for dementia. JAMA 1997;278:1327-1332.). The authors asserted that the improvement seen in patients with Alzheimer could be equated with "a six-month delay in the progression of the disease." These results are particularly promising in light of the fact that no satisfactory treatments currently exist for the management of this common and devastating condition.